JPS61272052A - Body support pad - Google Patents

Abstract

A body support pad (10) for inhibiting the occurrence of decubitus ulcers. The body support pad includes a generally planar but flexible base member (12) having an upper surface (14) and a lower surface (16). A plurality of pillars (22) are arrayed across the lower surface and extend outwardly therefrom. The pillars can be arranged in discrete arrays wherein the pillars in each aray can have specific pressure dispersing characteristics. The body support pad also includes a plurality of pods (18) extending outwardly from the upper surface of the base member. The pods can be arranged in discrete arrays wherein the pods in each array can have specific pressure dispersing characteristics. The body support pad also includes ventilation apertures (38, 40) for permitting free flow of air in and around the pad.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (Industrial application field) The present invention relates to a body support pad.

(Prior Art) Bedsores, generally referred to as pressure pain syndrome or bed inflammation, are frequently observed in patients who are unable to walk, such as bedridden or wheelchair-bound patients. The main cause of the disease is that conventional beds and wheelchairs lack sufficient body support and cannot reduce seat pressure.

Due to insufficient support or failure to reduce pressure, the constant weight of the patient on the tissues surrounding the skeleton can be great enough to cause pressure sores.

There are generally two types of patient support structures currently in use. These structures can be classified as dynamic or static. Dynamic pads or cushions are equipped with an external power source to perform their functions. Although such systems are convenient for bedridden patients, the immobility of these systems makes them unsuitable for use in wheelchairs. Moreover, such dynamic motion is relatively expensive and therefore undesirable.

Static seats are generally preferred because they are inexpensive and portable for use in wheelchairs. Static cushions can be classified into two categories: (1) bag cushions and (2) foam cushions.

Bladder cushions are filled with fluid or some form of gel. For example, it is basically a bag made of flexible walls, such as a plastic bag.

The fluid can be air or water. The gel-filled bag is filled with some type of gel material such as ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, silicone, etc. Bag-type cushions are known from Burns, U.S. Pat. No. 2,434,641 and Graebe.
) U.S. Patent No. 3.605°145, No. 3.870
．． No. 450 and No. 4°005.236.

Foam cushions can be any structure using foam. For example, foam cushions can be solid foam or of various foam laminate constructions. Examples of foam formats include "ovoid" cushions and molded foam cushions.

One of these cushions is Mr.
ams) US Pat. No. 3,231,454.

Foam cushions are generally an inexpensive type of cushion. Foam cushions are undesirable because they tend to accumulate large amounts of heat. Regarding the drawbacks of heat accumulation, it is believed that accumulated heat is a contributing factor to the development of pressure sores. Although bag-type products are very expensive, they perform satisfactorily in terms of pressure distribution. Some bag products are lightweight compared to foam cushions of similar surface area.

Bag-type products similar to foam cushions can also create problematic heat build-up. Another drawback with bag-type products is that they can cause the patient to be hotter than with foam cushions.

It would be desirable to provide a lightweight, low cost body support pad that has the good pressure distribution properties of a bag-type product and the beneficial properties of a foam cushion.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention relates to a body support pad that is relatively inexpensive, easy to manufacture, and easy to clean, and which disperses pressure on the pad to prevent pressure sores from occurring. ing. In particular, the body support pad of the present invention is suitable for use in a wheelchair and can prevent pressure sores from forming on a patient while sitting in a wheelchair.

The pad of the present invention is a body support pad that includes a flexible, generally planar base member having an upper surface and a lower surface. The body support pad is of one-piece construction that can be fabricated by molding the pad from a moldable material, such as microporous urethane. The pad is
It includes a flexible, generally planar base member having an upper surface and a lower surface. A plurality of supports are provided along the lower surface and project outwardly from the lower surface. The plurality of supports are arranged in separate rows, each support having the same pressure distribution characteristics. That is, the supports in each row have the same pressure distribution characteristics, but the pressure distribution characteristics of the supports in adjacent or different rows are different. The support is provided so as to substantially uniformly contact the support surface on which the pad is placed when the body is supported by the pad. That is, the weight of a person riding on the pad deforms the flexible flat base member and supports, bringing them into approximate contact with the support surface, and deforms the base members and supports across the supports. It distributes pressure evenly.

A plurality of hollow pods project outwardly from an upper surface of the flexible, generally planar base member. The pod is generally conical in shape with a generally hemispherical upper portion. The pod is adapted to contact the pad-supported body over as wide an area as possible and to transfer or distribute the body's forces on the pad over a large area. The pod may be provided with a slit so that when the pod collapses due to force, the pod is in wide surface contact with the body that compresses the pod. The pods are arranged in rows along the upper surface of the base member of the pad. Each row of pods has a pressure distribution characteristic that is constant within the row, but this characteristic is different from the pressure distribution characteristics of the pods in other rows. The pods in each row exert a resisting force on the body supported by the pad, and the pods are configured to apply such a resisting force substantially perpendicular to the body. The seat pressure is distributed substantially evenly along the surface of the portion of the body that contacts the pad, with the pods exerting a resisting force generally perpendicular to the padded body.

Regarding the supports, they are hollow and are provided over the required number of rows. The number of rows corresponds to the number of force points on the patient's body when the patient is placed on the support surface. In the case of seat pads, five rows have been found to provide ideal effective pressure distribution properties. That is, five different types of supports with five unique pressure distribution characteristics are arranged along the lower surface of the pad's base member. The pressure distribution properties of the supports can be weakened by varying the length and wall thickness of individual supports. The pod has a substantially conical shape with a substantially rounded or spherical tip.

Like the supports, the pods are also arranged over the required number of rows to provide beneficial properties and pressure distribution properties depending on the body and how the body is supported. In the case of seat pads, two types of pods were found to exhibit essential and beneficial properties.

These two types of pods are arranged along the upper surface of the flat base member of the pad. The pressure distribution properties of each pod can be weakened by varying the wall thickness of each pod. The pods are approximately cylindrical or frustoconical with a hemispherical upper surface. Both the wall thickness of the cylindrical section and the wall thickness of the hemispherical section can be varied to adjust the pressure distribution characteristics of a particular pod.

The pad of the present invention is equipped with ventilation openings.

Vent openings pass through the base member, particularly through the respective supports and end walls of the pod.

It is desirable to provide ventilation openings to allow free flow of air, which serves to reduce heat accumulation.

The body support pad of the present invention can be easily molded from lightweight materials in a single molding process. The pad can be molded from a single piece of material, with the pods and supports offset relative to each other. The pad of the present invention can be constructed from durable materials. These materials are resistant to fecal and urine waste and other body fluids. The pad of the present invention also provides a structure that can be adjusted by the attendant or user to suit the patient's particular situation. That is, the individual supports and pods (particularly the supports) are
It can be adjusted by the attendant by changing its shape to suit the needs of each patient.

The body support pad of the present invention may also be part of a combined body support cushion. That is, the body support cushion includes the body support pad described above and a foam pad overlay that rides on the top of the pod of the body support pad. Foam veneers are made from lightweight foam materials. This material is an open cell foam that provides supplemental ventilation to the patient. Foam pads can also be vented by providing ventilation openings through the foam top. The foam lining increases the patient's surface area in contact with the pod and serves to improve patient comfort.

A cushion cover covers the upholstery. The cushion cover is selected to have hygroscopic properties that remove moisture from the body. It is also desirable to have a woven cover that stretches in two directions to prevent hammocking.

A hammock effect is undesirable because it exerts inappropriate pressure on the body. It is also desirable to use oven-knit cushion covers to enhance the breathability of the material and the flow of air through the entire cushion structure.

(Example) A body support pad that is the subject of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings. In particular, this body support pad will be described with reference to body support pad 10 shown in FIG. 1, which is depicted as being usable as a seat pad. That is, the body support band 10 shown in FIG. 1 can be used as a seat pad for a wheelchair, a seat chair, or the like. It will be appreciated that the discussion herein relating to seat pads can be applied to pads for use by reclining persons, such as pinerest pads and the like. Explanation II! I
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In order to achieve this, the body support pad that is the subject of the present invention will be described based on the seat pad shown in the accompanying drawings.

In Figure 1, the body support pad is approximately 2 on the Shore A scale.
Constructed from a one-piece molded microporous urethane elastomer with a durometer of 0 to 40. Other moldable materials can be used to fabricate body support pads that are light in weight, provide good seat pressure distribution, are breathable, durable, and generally resistant to body fluids. Microporous urethane elastomers have been found to be a preferred material if the pad is to be provided.

Body support pad 10 includes a generally flexible base member 12. The base member lies generally in a plane and has an upper surface 14 and a lower surface 16. A plurality of pods 18 project upwardly from the upper surface 14. The pod is approximately cylindrical with an upper hemispherical surface.

The pod 18 also includes slits 20 along its sides so that when a force is applied to the pod, the pod is compressed to a substantially uniform state. The pod is a base member 12
The base member is integrally molded and is a generally hollow structure opening into the lower surface 16 of the base member, as can be seen more closely in FIG. In connection with FIG. 8 it can be seen that the pod cavity 25 is located within the pod.

A plurality of supports 22 project outwardly from the lower surface 16 of the base member. Support 22 is body support pad 1
0 rests on the support surface, and the pod 18 rests on the body support pad 1o or contacts the body supported by the support pad 1o. Further, the support 22 is integrally molded from the material constituting the base member. The support is also made from a hollow structure. This structure is
As seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, a support cavity 24 opens into the upper surface of the base member.

Also, as seen in the drawings, the supports and pods are offset relative to each other to facilitate molding of the supports and pods.
It also allows for proper pressure distribution across the pad assembly, as discussed below.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, 56 pads are provided in a row on the upper surface of the base member.

Seventy-two supports are provided in a row on the lower surface of the base member. The number of pods and supports can be varied depending on the pad used. To obtain a large surface area to support the body in a seated position, approximately 40.01n (
Approximately 153/4 inches wide and 45.09 cm deep
(approximately 173/4 inches), and the length is approximately 6.668 inches.
For a body support pad of approximately 25/8 inches, it has been found preferable to provide 56 pods and 72 supports. The base diameter of the pod is approximately 4.4500
(approximately 13/4 inches), and the length is approximately 2.858Ql.
(approximately 11/8 inch) and extending over a length of approximately 1 inch to 11/8 inch (2.540 nm to 2.858 cm). The support has an opening radius of approximately 2.858α (approximately 1 1/8 inches) and a diameter of approximately 1.905c to 3.175 alt (approximately 3.175 in.
Lengths range from 1/4 inch to 11/4 inch. Base member is approximately 0.6350m (approximately 1/4 inch)
It has a thickness of The particular arrangement of the pods and supports, as well as the particular pressure distribution characteristics, are detailed below.

See Figure 2. The body support cushion is shown in an exploded view. In Figure 2, body support pad 1
0 forms the primary pressure distribution portion of the entire cushion assembly. The surface formed by the tips of the plurality of pods 18 is covered with a foam lining. Foam overlays are foam pads. This foam pad has a density of approximately 1.8 pods under 30 indentation load deflection (ILD). Foamed overlays have high elasticity and can be made from any suitable foamed material, such as preferably urethane. It is also desirable to use flame retardant foam materials to comply with many applicable fire codes and laws. Preferably, an open cell foam structure is used to properly ventilate the body resting on the cushion. However, if the foam overlay requires a slow restoring force, closed cell foam can also be used in place. In this example, if additional ventilation is required, ventilation openings 28 may be provided through the foam overlay to provide such supplemental ventilation. Sufficient diameter, e.g. approximately 0.476 cm
(approximately 3/16 inch) diameter allows the aperture to remain open and maintain adequate ventilation even under load. In preferred embodiments of the foam veneers, each of
It has been found that 42 ventilation openings with diameters from 1/8 to 3/16 inch can be installed. The foam upholstery has the ability to increase the surface area in contact with the body, providing more surface area than segmented padding, which improves comfort against the body.

The body support cushion is also provided with a cloth cover 30. The fabric cover covers both the foam overlay 26 and the body support pad 10. cover 30
It also provides a means for retaining the foam upholstery on the body support pad. The cover has an upper surface 32 and sidewalls 34 that wrap around the foam upholstery and body support pad. It has been found that the cover must be selected from a material that has hygroscopic properties that allow moisture to be removed from the padded body. It is also desirable to use a cover that prevents, or at least makes less likely to occur, the so-called hammock effect. Hammock effect occurs when a fabric is unable to stretch when a force or load is applied to it. . The hammock effect exerts inappropriate forces on the body. A preferred material has been found to be 100% polypropylene in a knitted fabric, which can absorb moisture quickly and stretches in two directions to prevent hammocking. It is also preferable to make the cover using oven knit. This is because the oven knit can enhance breathing through the cover material and thus increase air flow through the cushion assembly. The increased airflow or ventilation of the cushion assembly helps to significantly reduce or prevent the occurrence of pressure sores.

It is also desirable that the cover not burn or is difficult to burn, even if the cover comes into contact with flames or embers caused by, for example, a dropped cigarette.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the body support pad. As can be seen from this side view, the pod 18 is offset from the support 22. It has been found that by offsetting the pods from their supports, the pressure can be conveniently distributed.

The side view of FIG. 3 shows the slit 2 provided in the pod 18.
It shows 0. The slits 20 are spaced approximately 90 degrees apart on each pod, forming four slits for each pod. The slits serve to uniformly deform each pod when a force is applied to the pod. The slits also allow the pods to maintain a relatively large surface area as they collapse, allowing force to be applied to keep each pod in contact with the crushing body, i.e. as each pad collapses. The square cross-section shaped surface forms a much larger surface area than the circular cross-section of the pod without slits.

FIG. 3 also demonstrates the ability to ventilate the embodiment pad by appropriately providing ventilation openings in the pad. As seen in the figures, the pod is provided with pod ventilation openings 38 in or along the upper curved surface of the pod. The support can also be provided with support ventilation openings 40 in the same way on its curved surface. Ventilation openings may be provided through the base member between the pod and the support to increase the amount of airflow. Providing various types of ventilation has the advantage of preventing inappropriate heat accumulation. This heat accumulation is known to be the cause of bedsores.

Although the body support pad made from a flexible open-cell microporous material such as urethane with the staggered pods and supports described above is admittedly unique, the structure of the pad The special arrangement of the pods and supports in the is also a beneficial feature in preventing pressure sores. Fourth
See Figures and Figure 5. The structure and arrangement of pods is explained.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of body support pad 10 showing a total of 56 pods arranged in 8 x 7 rows across the upper surface. That is, the pods are arranged in eight rows and seven stages. Within the main columns of these pods are:
There is a row of pods divided into two. The pods have unique pressure distribution characteristics, and the pods in each of the two rows are made of different pressure distribution characteristics. However, all pods are provided with four slits 20, regardless of the pressure distribution properties they have.

A configuration consisting of two rows of pods with different pressure distribution characteristics is illustrated in FIG. FIG. 5 shows a wheelchair pad in which the body support pad is made from molded microporous urethane foam. ' represents a preferred pad configuration. In FIG. 5, the back side of the body support pad is the front side of the drawing. Although more than two rows can be used, it has been found that two different rows are sufficient to achieve the desired effect. With reference to FIG. 5, the first row of pods extends generally along three sides of the body support pad and approximately part way into the center of the pad. The first row of pods are identified using a Roman numeral in the center of the schematically illustrated circle representing the pod. The remaining pod, represented by the Roman numeral ■, is the second
It consists of a column of The second row of pods is arranged over an area of the body support pad that experiences significant forces in supporting the body. The second row of pods has less resistance and serves to spread the force over a wider area through the pads than the first row of pods. The pressure distribution properties of the pod are controlled by the durometer of the material making up the pad and by the wall thickness of the curved and straight portions of the pod. This difference in sidewall thickness is illustrated in FIG. 8, which is a cross-sectional view of the body support bat. As seen in FIG. 8, each pod 18 includes a pod sidewall 42 having a generally straight wall portion designated by area "a" and a curved wall portion designated by area "b." By varying the thickness of the 121 sidewall sections, the pressure distribution characteristics of the pod can be adjusted. For example, in a preferred embodiment, the pods of the first row 1 have a curved wall portion "t) I+ of about 0
．． 2,541 (approximately 0.10 inches) with a wall thickness of approximately 0.2843 (approximately 0.112
inch) wall thickness. The second row of pods with low pressure resistance characteristics have a wall thickness of about 0.10 inch for both curved and straight wall sections.

In the preferred embodiment, these pods have a diameter of 4.4
45s < 1 3/4 inches), with a length of approximately 2.858α (approximately 11/8 inches), and each of the four slits measures approximately 2.858 cm (approximately 11/8 inches) in length. It has become.

The basic shape and structure of the pod has been chosen to provide maximum surface area while providing effective pressure distribution. The shape of the pod was selected based on force/compression analysis. This analysis is performed on structures of various shapes with various shapes, dimensions, and thicknesses. Preferred embodiments of the pod profile provide maximum surface area with minimal deformation, consistent load resistance under varying magnitudes of compressive force, and horizontal and diagonal resistance from the patient's buttocks on the pad. It is designed so that compressive force can be applied in this direction.

The pods, with selected dimensions and shapes, are adapted to exert a resistive force on the padded body.

The arrangement of the supports of the body support pad is depicted in the bottom view illustrated in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the supports 22 are arranged in nine rows and eight rows, and a total of 72 supports are used for the wheelchair pad.

The drawing shown in FIG. 6 also shows a pod cavity 25 forming an open, hollow pod structure.

The supports are arranged in rows on the lower surface of the base member of the body support pad. The arrangement of rows is illustrated in FIG. 7 by schematically representing the supports as circles. In FIG. 7, the back side of the pad is depicted on the surface of the illustrated drawing. The supports are arranged in rows. In the preferred embodiment shown, the supports are distributed in five different rows along the lower surface. Support is approximately 1.905cs
+ to 3.175 cm (approximately 3/4 inch to approximately 11/4 inch
with lengths ranging from approximately 0.2540 to 0.2540 inches
．． 4450 (about 0.10 inches to about 0.175 inches). By selecting supports within these dimensions, each support in the row of barrels can have different pressure distribution characteristics.

The length of the support is selected to accommodate the expected loads or pressures on each area of the pad. Because the body support pad is constructed from a flexible material, the generally flat base member 12 will bend downward as the focus bends over the upper surface. This downward bend can be predicted by knowing what body will rest on the upper surface. That is, there are some areas that are more curved than other areas. For this reason, the supports are arranged in rows, each with its own pressure dispersion characteristics. In areas where the greatest bending of the base member is expected, the length of the support is shortened and at its lowest length.

In areas with few bends, the supports have the highest length. At the boundary between these two areas, the length should vary depending on the anticipated loads and bending of the base member.

The length of the support is adjusted so that when a load is applied to the upper surface of the pad, all of the support is in contact with the support surface that rests on the body support pad. In this way pressure can be distributed very effectively.

The supports also have pressure-distributing properties by adjusting the wall thickness so that all supports collapse uniformly when the expected loads are applied to the upper surface. That is, when the supports are in contact with the support surfaces that rest on them, they exhibit a substantially constant pressure resistance force. The support collapses, distributing the weight and placing less resistance on the patient's bony prominences (generally the areas of highest pressure) than on the surrounding tissue.

In FIG. 7, a preferred body support pad with 72 rows of supports having the physical dimensions described above has five types of supports arranged along the lower surface. Five types of supports with different pressure distribution properties are designated by the symbols ASB, C
, D and E.

The row that provides the smallest resistance force but the largest pressure dispersion characteristic is the row separated from the others, indicated by symbol C in FIG. The two columns labeled C are aligned with the ridges of the patient's ischial bones.

The ischial ridges are two appendages that descend from the ischial surface and generally correspond to the areas most susceptible to pressure pain. These ischial prominences of thought are approximately 4 inches off the main portion of the pelvis and project approximately 11/2 inches below the main portion.

This pad provides as little pressure relief as possible under the ischial eminence within a pressure range of approximately 20 to 40 millimeters of mercury (s+H(1)).

To provide such pressure relief, the support is constructed from open-cell, microporous urethane with a pore size of approximately 1.9051 (approx.
It has a length of 75 inches and a wall thickness of approximately 0.10 inches. The supports in this separate row have the shortest length of all the supports because these areas receive the most pressure from the patient's body and the base member 12 deforms the most in these areas. .

Another row of supports separated from the others is designated by the symbol B in FIG. These supports have slightly greater pressure valve failure characteristics than the support designated C. The support designated B corresponds to the location of the coccygeal and upper femoral protrusions of the patient's body supported by the body support pad. Since these two areas exert a large pressure similar to the maximum pressure, it is desirable to prevent pressure from building up in the upper femoral process and the coccygeal area. The supports designated B provide pressure relief within the pressure range of approximately 10 to 30 millimeters of mercury. The support represented by B is 1, approximately 2.540 cm (approximately 1 inch) long and 0.318 cm +
(0.125 inches) wall thickness.

A separate column of supports, designated D in FIG. 7, exhibits pressure release values corresponding to said pressures. Further, these supports coincide with the area around the coccyx and the area close to the protrusion on the upper part of the femur and reaching the outer thigh. The support indicated by D is approximately 2.858011 (approximately 1.125 inches)
length and a wall thickness of approximately 0.150 inches.

Other rows of supports are designated by the symbol E. These supports are located at the front of the pad.

The support designated E corresponds to the outer or inner thigh of the patient's thigh. Since the thick and soft part of the thigh can distribute the pressure load, it is desirable to have some of the pressure borne by the thigh region. The support marked E is approximately 2.858011 (approximately 1.125 inches)
length and a wall thickness of approximately 3.175α (approximately 1.25 inches).

The column of supports in FIG. 7, designated by symbol A, has the highest pressure resistance of the supports providing support for the body support pad. As seen in FIG. 7, the rows of supports, designated A, are located generally along the sides of the pad and along the rows of small areas on the patient's thighs. The support designated A has a length of about 11/4 inches and a wall thickness of about 0.175 inches. Although the thigh region can receive and take a large amount of seat pressure, care must be taken to place the support in the appropriate configuration.

Therefore, supports of the type A, E and D are provided in the thigh region. The surrounding tissue has a high fat content and can sufficiently disperse pressure, so it is suitable for reducing pressure. For this reason, highly resistant supports, indicated by 8, are placed in those surrounding tissue areas.

As is clear from the foregoing discussion regarding the placement of supports and the various rows of supports, the body support pad is configured to distribute weight over the thigh and surrounding tissue. Weight is transferred to the thighs and is generally distributed evenly between the inner and outer thighs.

The pad has sufficient stability in the lateral direction (left and right as well as front and rear) due to the arrangement of supports, helps maintain a healthy posture, and can be stably used, for example, by patients with spinal cord injuries.

An array of supports with varying pressure distribution properties is provided to allow collapse under varying pressures. Therefore, the seat pressure can be distributed from the prominence of the ischial bone and the coccyx to the thigh and surrounding tissues.

An advantage of this structure is that the body support pad can be adjusted according to the patient's particular situation. That is, the length of these supports can be adjusted by cutting individual supports to provide pressure distribution characteristics that suit the needs of each patient.

The body support pad of this example combines the resilient IN4 construction with the contours of the patient's body to distribute pressure exerted by the patient supported by the pad. That is, by appropriately selecting the individual pods and supports and varying the wall thickness to obtain different elasticities, and by changing the profile of the supports (adjusting the length), the patient's body that exerts different pressures can be adjusted. It supports each part. The body support pad can be integrally molded in a simple single step, such as using a flexible microporous urethane foam material covered with an injection moldable skin. The material is injected into the mold and gradually reacts and hardens to form an open-cell, microporous urethane structure.

While the body support pad is being molded, ventilation openings are also molded at the same time to provide ventilation to the finished pad.

The use of the support pad can be better understood by looking at FIG. 9, which depicts the pad supporting the patient's body 48. As can be seen from the figures, the patient's body is supported by the pads and compresses the pods by riding on the pods on the upper surface of the base member of the pad. When compressed, the pod forms a large surface that supports the patient's body. That is, the hemispherical shape and the dark slot 19 (as each pod collapses under pressure, the slot widens and opens) provides a large surface for contact with the body. The hemispherical shape also exerts forces on the body around the same places that forces are applied to the pod from the body. Therefore, pressure is applied from the pod to the body substantially orthogonally to the body. Forces acting on the body tend to be distributed over the surface areas that contact the pod, so they are averaged out and serve to prevent pressure sores.

FIG. 9 also shows the deformation or bending of the base member 12. As evidenced by the bending, the butt is in contact with a support surface 46 that rests on the body support pad. Although the short supports in the area of the column bearing the coccygeal or ischial eminence contact the support surface, some of the initial force and pressure exerted by the patient's body is first absorbed by the bending or bowing of the base member 12; This distributes the force over the surface of the body support pad. The supports collapse or compress under the pressure of the patient's body and are configured so that they all compress with approximately the same resistance, thereby providing a substantially even distribution of force. Initially, the resistance is small, but increases as the supports collapse and more supports come into contact, and as more supports begin to be compressed by the patient's weight.

From the foregoing description relating to short pads or wheelchair pads, those skilled in the art will be able to utilize the technology of the present invention in a variety of body support pad configurations and applications, such as for use in beds.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a body support pad of the present invention. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a patient support pad using the body support pad of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a side view of the body support pad of FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a plan view of the body support pad of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram representing the outline of a pod of a body support pad. 6 is a bottom view of the body support pad of FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing the arrangement of the supports of the body support pad. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the body support pad taken along line 8--8 in FIG. 4. FIG. 9 is a side view of the body support pad illustrating how the body support pad supports the patient. 10...Body support part 1: 12...Base member 14...Upper surface 16
...Lower surface 18...Pod 19...
Frontage slot 20...Slit 22...Support 24...Support space 25...Pod space 26...Foam lining 28...Vent opening
30-...Cloth cover 32...Upper surface
34... Side wall 38.40... Ventilation opening 46
...Supporting surface 48...Body

Claims (35)

[Claims] (1) a flexible, generally planar base member that is a body support pad and has an upper surface and a lower surface, and a row projecting outwardly from the lower surface and separated from others of generally similar characteristics; are arranged in such a way that while the body is supported on the pads, they are in substantially uniform contact with the supporting surface on which the pads are placed, and that different resistance forces are exerted in such separated rows. a plurality of support means and a plurality of pod means projecting outwardly from the upper surface and arranged in separate rows, each row of pod means exerting a different resistance force on the body; Such a resistance force is applied almost perpendicularly to the body by a body support pad. 2. The body support pad of claim 1, wherein the body support pad has an integrally molded flat base member, a plurality of support means, and a plurality of pod means. . (3) The body support pad according to claim 2, wherein the body support pad is made of an integrally molded microporous urethane foam. (4) The body support pad according to claim 1, further comprising a ventilation means on the body support pad for performing ventilation through the pad. (5) The body support pad according to claim 4, wherein the ventilation means has an opening passing through the flexible base member. (6) The body support pad according to claim 4, wherein the ventilation means has an opening passing through the support means. (7) A body support pad according to claim 4, wherein the ventilation means has an opening passing through the pod means. (8) A body support pad according to claim 4, wherein the ventilation means has an opening passing through the support means and the pod means. 9. A body support pad according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of support means are arranged in at least two rows of support means separated from each other with different pressure distribution characteristics. 10. A body support pad according to claim 9, wherein the support means are arranged in five separate rows with different pressure distribution characteristics. (11) A first row of support means separated from the others provided at a region on the body support pad corresponding to the prominence of the ischial bone and the coccyx, and a second row separated from the others corresponding to the protrusion of the upper thigh. a third row of support means separated from the others, which corresponds to the prominence of the ischial bone and the region adjacent to the coccyx; a fourth row of support means, which corresponds to the thigh; and a fifth column of support means, which provides lateral support. 11. A body support pad according to claim 10, further comprising rows of support means. 12. The body support pad of claim 11, wherein the first row comprises support means having relatively low pressure dispersion properties. 13. A body support pad according to claim 12, wherein the second row of support means comprises support means having slightly greater pressure dispersion characteristics than the first row of support means. 14. The body support pad of claim 13, wherein the third row of support means has a pressure distribution characteristic that is greater than the pressure distribution characteristics of the second row of support means. 15. The body support pad of claim 14, wherein the fourth row of support means has greater pressure distribution properties than the third row of support means. 16. The body support pad of claim 15, wherein the fifth row of support means has greater pressure distribution properties than the fourth row of support means. (17) The body support pad according to claim 1, further comprising foam top pad means for increasing the contact surface area of the body supported by the pad. (18) Claims further comprising cover means overlying the foam overlay and base member as well as the support means and pod means to prevent a hammock effect and to aid in and retain the foam on the base member. The body support pad according to item 17. 19. A body support pad according to claim 17, wherein the foam top further includes ventilation means for creating a flow of air through the foam top. (20) The body support pad of claim 19, wherein the ventilation means comprises a plurality of openings passing through the foam lining. (21) Each pod means has a generally cylindrical protrusion with a generally hemispherical upper surface, and the pressure distribution properties are obtained from the wall thickness of the pod means. Body support pad. (22) Claim 2, wherein the pod means further has a slit along the surface so as to be able to maintain a virtual surface contact with the body supported by the body support pad.
The body support pad according to item 1. (23) Each support means consists of a substantially conical structure with a rounded end, and by varying the length and wall thickness of each support means, the support means has different pressure dispersion characteristics. A body support pad according to claim 1, comprising: a body support pad according to claim 1; 24. A body support pad according to claim 1, wherein the support means and the pod means are on the upper and lower surfaces, respectively, of the base member and are axially offset from each other. (25) A body support pad for use in preventing the development of pressure sores, the body support pad comprising a molded flexible generally planar base member having an upper surface and a lower surface. , a support means integrally molded with the base member and projecting outwardly from the lower surface of the base member, the support means exerting a resisting force on the padded body, and the respective rows are arranged in different rows. a plurality of hollow support means, such as the support means, including a support means with pressure dispersion characteristics; and a plurality of hollow pod means integrally formed with and projecting outwardly from the upper surface of the base member. wherein the pod means are arranged in separate rows along the upper surface and are capable of applying a resisting force to the body supported by the support pad, the resisting force being applied substantially perpendicular to the body; Furthermore, the body support pad is composed of pod means in each row having different pressure dispersion characteristics. 26. The body support pad of claim 25 further comprising a foam overlay pad adapted to ride on a plurality of pod means. (27) The body support pad according to claim 26, further comprising ventilation means capable of circulating air through and through the foam top pad. 28. The body support pad of claim 27, further comprising a bidirectionally extendable cover that retains a foam overlay pad over the body support pad. (29) The support means has a length ranging from about 0.75 inches to about 1.125 inches, and a length ranging from about 0.10 inches to about 0.5 inches. a hollow cylindrical shaped end with a rounded end having a wall thickness in the range of about 0.175 inches and a diameter of about 1.375 inches. A body support pad according to claim 25. (30) Each pod means is approximately 2.858 cm (approximately 1
．． 125 inches) and approximately 4.45 cm (approximately 1.75 inches) long.
a hollow cylindrical shape having a generally hemispherical upper surface with a diameter of 1.5 inches and a wall thickness ranging from about 0.229 cm (about 0.09 inches) to about 0.445 cm (about 0.175 inches) 26. The body support pad according to claim 25, comprising a structure. (31) the respective pod means are further spaced about 90 degrees along each wall of the respective pod means;
Claim 30 having four slits having a length of approximately 1.125 inches.
Body support pads as described in section. (32) A body support pad according to claim 31, wherein the support means are arranged in at least two rows containing support means of different pressure distribution characteristics. 33. A body support pad according to claim 32, wherein the pod means are arranged in at least two rows containing pod means of different pressure distribution characteristics. (34) Claim 2, wherein the support means are arranged in five rows separated from each other with different pressure distribution characteristics.
The body support pad according to item 9. (35) The pod means are arranged in two rows with the first row of pod means meeting the greater pressure exerted by the pad-supported body;
the second row of pod means corresponds to a region receiving at least direct pressure from the body, and such second row of pod means has a relatively lower resistance than the first row of pod means. 26. A body support pad as claimed in claim 25 which exhibits a greater resistance force than the pod means.